Band: SATHANAS
Country of origin: USA
Style: black / death metal
Questions by: Kai Mathias Stalhammar
Answers supplied by: Paul Tucker (vocals, guitars)
 

First of all, how come you get signed to Blackmetal.com? It’s not really a label of the full value, as far as my knowledge of underground goes…

- Blackmetal.com was one of the only distro / labels that wanted to release the SATHANAS material. We had other offers but Blackmetal wanted to release 2 CD's & 2LP's all at once. No other label would pay that much. Plus Blackmetal has a lot of connections. Hopefully a bigger label will take notice now that we are being distributed properly.

Wasn’t one of the CDs recently released by Blackmetal.com originally supposed to go out via Singapore’s Pulverised, and formerly UK’s Conquistador? Seems like both parties failed to carry on – don’t you know the reasons why?

- No, that is our new mini CD "Cruentos Diabolos" & that will be released by Drakkar Productions from France soon.

SATHANAS strikes as pretty old band, however you still assume certain playing mistakes here and there (at least, if we’d refer to “Thy Dark Heavens” which I gave a thousandth listen lately)… What is it; a lack of practice / rehearsals?

- Well if you noticed Bill plays drums on this CD. He only had two weeks to get the material down. No drummers were available to fill in. As for mistakes. There are no major mistakes on the new CD. I think it gives the recording character. We could of used computers to make everything exact. But we like the raw sound of going straight through the tracks. To us thats the metal should be.

Do you check out the reviews covering your actual products? In this case, what exasperates, what surprises and what gladdens you most?

- I've seen some real good reviews for the new CD. I think its great to finally see people finally taking SATHANAS serious. We have been told that we are one of the most original black / death bands to ever be formed.

When it comes to criticism, is there it’s certain “trait” you consider most important?

- Everyone's got an opinion. Criticism doesn’t bother us. We say if you can do it better more power to you. But people that criticize bands & music that don't even play in a band can fuck off.

Black metal is often meant as a complete opposition to society, whilst those taking part in bands of this kind (i.e. delivering BM) are implied as certain modernday warriors – however, hadn’t time of both, warriors and rebellion, passed aeons ago? What’s your opinion on this subject?

- As for black metal it has changed a lot since VENOM. Every band now has to wear corpse paint & spikes to be evil. The music should speak for itself. The true warriors stand alone.

Interviewing a band of US’ origin, I simply can’t stop this chat without wondering if events of 11th of September made any impact on you personally…

- I think it was a very well planned attack. I give them credit for that. We need to go full force on finding the responsible people. And bringing them to death. I think a public assassination would go over well. Put the motherfuckers on T.V. and blow there heads off. Then announce who's next on the list. I think that would change a lot of terrorist's minds.

The most extreme music genre, as black metal is pretty often defined, certainly never really had anything to do with a love geared to fellow-men… So, logically, 666,6% of black metal advocates worldwide (and particularly in USA) had to but rejoice of witnessing WTC twins crumble down, beholding their compatriots die in agony… Doesn’t such a supposition make sense? However, I guess most of those I just mentioned felt something quite on the contrary…

- Well I think it would be different if men lost their lives in battle. As for women & children they had no part in that. Who ever is responsible should come forward and fight like men. Instead of hiding in caves like pussy's.

Developing this topic… Isn’t it time to stop posing misanthropes and show the world who you really are?

- Yes.

Apart from 11th of September, what would you name the most arcane experience in your whole life?

- The most arcane experience in my life would be the death of family members. I guess?

Do you consider the future of SATHANAS something at least more or less pertinent to the notion of “success”?

- SATHANAS is striving towards success. SATAN is patient.

Heard anything ‘bout Russia? The metal scene we have here? Is it possible to once attend a local gig (in Moscow) and see you playing live?

- No not really. Not up on your metal scene. But hopefully that would be great. We enjoyed playing in Holland and Germany last month (November 2001 a.t.b.b. - ED).

I hope you found this questionnaire interesting enough. The last lines are yours, man…

- Thanx Kai, watch for further news on our website & Blackmetal.com. New MCD out on Drakkar Productions soon.

SATHANAS contact -
Email: sathanas.paul@verizon.net
       rippinevil@adelphia.net